Stubborn Stones keep Beavers to just a point

Despite looking the better side for extended periods, Hampton couldn't force home a winner.

With Luke Sheldrick coming into the side as cover for suspended keeper Sam Howes, Dowse was able to name the same starting lineup that faced Oxford City.

The Beavers got the start they were looking for as Juston Amaluzor won a corner on the far side in the 6th minute. Captain Josh Casey's cross into the box found the lurking Charlie Wassmer, whose header down beat Stones keeper Jonathan North and the covering defenders to give Hampton the lead.

Hampton were looking to force the game and with just over 15 minutes on the watch, a foul on Amaluzor gave the Beavers a free kick just outside the box. Casey's attempt was curling towards the top corner but it narrowly went over the bar.

Stones forward David Pratt was looking the more dangerous for the visitors and just before the half hour, he nearly got on the end of an Eddie Oshodi cross which Hampton managed to get clear.

Hampton were starting to apply the pressure and it took two saves from North just after the half hour to prevent Max Kretzschmar and then Brendan Kiernan from extending the Beavers' lead as it looked more likely that the next goal would be from a red & blue shirt.

However, Wealdstone got their equaliser with just under 10 minutes to go to half time, as Abobaker Eisa anticipated the long corner to well beyond the far post, to plant a firm header past Sheldrick.

Hampton were not going to let the visitors have the last word before the break, as Shandon Baptiste smartly controlled a Wassmer knock-down to fire in a shot that North had to block.

The fans ire was raised when what looked like a clumsy challenge by Oshodi in the seconds before halftime left Christian Jolley motionless on the floor. It was quite surprisingly waved away by the referee without even a free kick awarded, raising the temperature of the game.

The second half saw Hampton take the field without Jolley, and the replacement, Taurean Roberts, soon started asking questions down the wing.

The Stones thought they had a shout for a penalty soon afterwards but the referee didn't even entertain the idea and waved play on.

10 minutes into the half, Ben Wynter's neat play with Kiernan set the midfielder up in the box, but the shot smacked against the post and flew clear.

A couple of minutes later, Kiernan's cross took a deflection and clipped the Wealdstone crossbar as the Beavers tried to turn the possession into goals.

Hampton were still looking the side most likely to score, and Kretzschmar almost took advantage of North's poor clearance, but the scrambling keeper recovered well to save the midfielder's effort.

With 10 minutes to go, substitute Harry Crawford brought the ball under control on the edge of the box and fired in a hard shot, beating North but finding the post instead as the visitors goal looked to be leading a charmed life.

Wealdstone almost sneaked the win at the very end as a free kick from the far side was met by Harry Goodger, but the header was off target as the Stones tried to steal the points.

The Beavers therefore had to settle for a point when they could, on any another day, have had a comfortable victory.